PTSD and the Law: an update

Thirteen years ago, this journal published “PTSD and the Law” (Pitman & Sparr, 1998), a review that examined developments and state of the art in law, forensic evaluation, and expert testimony, providing specific forensic guidance that continues to be critically relevant in today’s courtroom. At the time, PTSD was characterized as a growth stock in the world of mental illnesses.

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Psychosocial assistance and decentralized mental health care in post conflict Burundi (2000-2008)

AbstractIn 2000 the nongovernmental organisation (NGO) HealthNet TPO started mental health and psychosocial support services in Burundi, a country that has been severely affectedby civil war. Within a time frame of eight years, a wide range of mental health and psychosocial services were established, covering large parts of the country. During the programme period the NGO activities shifted from the delivery of direct services to capacity building activities aimed at embedding psychiatric services and psychosocial assistance withinexisting local health services and social systems.

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Psychology of popular media culture

Psychology of Popular Media Culture (PPMC) is a scholarly journal dedicated to publishing empirical research and papers on how popular culture and general media influence individual, group, and system behavior. The journal will solicit rigorous research studies, as well as data-driven theoretical papers on constructs, consequences, program evaluations, and trends related to popular culture and various media sources. Although the journal welcomes and encourages submissions from a wide variety of disciplines, topics should be linked to psychological theory and research.

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Psychopharmakologische Therapie der Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung: Akutbehandlung und Strategien bei Therapieresistenz = Psychopharmacological treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and treatment strategies in therapy resistance

Die Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung (PTBS) ist in den vergangenen Jahren durch verschiedene Großschadensereignisse und aufsehenerregende Berichterstattungen vermehrt ins Bewusstsein von Bevölkerung, Ärzten und Psychotherapeuten getreten. Vor diesem Hintergrund nimmt die Diskussion über Behandlungsmöglichkeiten einen immer größeren Stellenwert ein. Obwohl dabei die psychotherapeutische Behandlung Mittel der ersten Wahl ist, stehen auch gute, evidenzbasierte psychopharmakologische Behandlungsmöglichkeiten zur Verfügung.

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Psychiatrische Begutachtung im Asylverfahren = Psychiatric expert opinions on asylum seekers in Germany

OBJECTIVE To investigate the frequency of traumatisation, suicidality and given diagnoses in expert opinions on asylum seekers and to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of this population. METHODS The psychiatric expert opinions on asylum seekers, furnished in an 8-year-period at Hannover Medical School, were analysed retrospectively for qualitative and quantitative characteristics. RESULTS 62 psychiatric expert opinions on asylum seekers were included in this study. The asylum seekers originated from 18 different countries, mainly from Turkey and former Yugoslavia.

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Predicting stabilizing treatment outcomes for complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Dissociative Identity Disorder: an expertise-based prognostic model

The purpose of this study was to develop an expertise-based prognostic model for the treatment of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociative identity disorder (DID). We developed a survey in 2 rounds: In the first round we surveyed 42 experienced therapists (22 DID and 20 complex PTSD therapists), and in the second round we surveyed a subset of 22 of the 42 therapists (13 DID and 9 complex PTSD therapists). First, we drew on therapists' knowledge of prognostic factors for stabilization-oriented treatment of complex PTSD and DID.

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Postdisaster psychological intervention since 9/11

A wealth of research and experience after 9/11 has led to the development of evidence-based and evidence-informed guidelines and strategies to support the design and implementation of public mental health programs after terrorism and disaster.

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Posttraumatic growth associated with a relative's serious illness.

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) involves personal psychological growth in response to a traumatic or very stressful event. Using theoretical guidance from Tedeschi and Calhoun's cognitive model, this study evaluated the relationship between specific individual, distress, and stress-processing factors and PTG among young adults who experienced an illness-related trauma earlier in life through a relative's serious illness. Sixty individuals with a relative with a serious illness completed measures of PTG, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), anxiety, and coping.

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Post-traumatic reactions to psychosis in people with multiple psychotic episodes

Psychotic symptoms, coercive interventions, and other negative treatment experiences have been found to lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, prior research has not examined the importance of the DSM-IV A1 (perception of threat) and A2 (negative emotion at time of event) criteria for a traumatic event due to a psychotic episode.

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Plaintes psychologiques et somatiques: parmi les survivants d'un tremblement de terre à Bam = Mental and somatic complaints among Bam earthquake survivors

This study examined psychological distress and somatic complaints in 105 earthquake survivors (30 men and 75 women) recruited at two time points: 7 and 14 months posttrauma. More then 80% of the subjects developed PTSD. This study demonstrates the necessity to explore psychotraumatic symptoms in patients referred for somatic complaints.

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